Connector for coaxial transmission lines

ABSTRACT

A connector for coaxial transmission lines wherein a thin flexible disk is bowed to receive the center conductor and then flexes back to secure the conductor and make electric contact with a contact pin. Other features include a simple metallic eyelet member for making the outer connection to the transmission line and a connector of relatively few parts which are secured in assembled and reusable position by merely screwing a nut into a body member.

United States Patent Inventor Donald C. Knapp Danbury, Conn. Appl. No. 813,924 Filed Apr. 7, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Gold Line Connector, lnc.

Norwalk, Conn.

CONNECTOR FOR COAXIAL TRANSMISSION LINES 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. 1

U. S. Cl 339/177 E, 339/95 A Int. Cl 1101:17/04 l-lOlr 9/08 Field of Search 339/103,

32 lite Primary Examiner-Stephen .I. Novosad Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab Attorney-Smythe & Moore ABSTRACT: A connector for coaxial transmission lines wherein a thin flexible disk is bowed to receive the center conductor and then flexes back to secure the conductor and make electric contact with a contact pin. Other features include a simple metallic eyelet member for making the outer connection to the transmission line and a connector of relatively few parts which are secured in assembled and reusable position by merely screwing a nut into a body member.

CONNECTOR FOR'COAXIAL TRANSMISSION LINES This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a connector for transmission lines of the coaxial cable type. Various types of connectors for attachment to coaxial transmission lines have been proposed in the past. While certain of these have gone into extensive use, they all possess certain disadvantages, especially when the attachment to a line is made in the field. Some, for example, require a soldered center connection, others a defonnable crimping sleeve or special crimping tools, while still others have a relatively large number of small parts which are easily lost or difficult to reassemble when mounting the connector on a coaxial cable.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a coaxial connector of novel and improved construction in which there are-relatively few parts to assemble and which can be readily mounted on a flexible transmission line without soldering or the use of special tools.

A further object is to provide a novel construction for coaxial connectors which permits reuse of the connector without the need for new parts.

A further object is the provision of a coaxial connector having a new and simplified structure for attaching the connector to a transmission line.

A still further object is to provide aconnector for coaxial transmission lines in which a simple flexible disk provides for securely clamping the center conductor of the line and making electrical contact therewith.

In one aspect of the invention, the connector comprises a cylindrical body member having a contact pin positioned therein and extending through an opening at one end thereof. The inner end of the pin is provided with a shoulder portion and a centrally positioned cavity. A thin flexible disk of conductive material is positioned against the shoulder portion of the pin and is provided with a small central opening having a plurality of slits extending radially outward therefrom whereby the disk can be bowed toward the cavity to enlarge the opening for receiving the center conductor of a coaxial transmission line and then flexes back securely to clamp said center conductor and provide electrical connection therewith.

In a second aspect, the cylindrical body member is provided with an internally threaded opening at the end thereof opposite to the contact pin and with an inwardly extending shoulder located intermediate its ends. A metallic eyeletlike member having a thin-walled sleeve portion and an outwardly extending extending flange portion is positioned in the body member outwardly of said shoulder with the flange portion making electrical contact with a metallic surface of the shoulder and the sleeve portion being adapted to he slipped between the dielectric layer surrounding the center conductor and the outer conductor of a coaxial cable. An adapter nut received in the threaded end of the body member is provided with a camlike portion at its inner end adapted to clamp the outer conductor of the cable and its outer insulating sheath against the thin-walled sleeve and pressing the flange of the eyeletlike member against the shoulder of the body member.

In a third aspect, suitable spacing sleeves of a dielectric material provide for electrically insulating the contact pin from the body member, pressing the flexible disk against the shoulder portion of the contact pin, and securing all parts in assembled position upon tightening of the adapter nut.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coaxial connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view in exaggerated scale of the flexible disk for clamping and making electrical contact with the center conductor of a coaxial transmission line; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, also in exaggerated scale, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a connector 10 adapted for connection to a coaxial transmission line or cable 12. The line 12 comprises a conventional type of coaxial cable having a center conductor 14, a surrounding layer 16 of flexible dielectric material, an outer tubular conductor 18 of normally braided construction, and an outer protective sheath 20 of suitable insulating material, all as well known in the art of coaxial conductors.

The connector 10 comprises a cylindrical body member 22 having an opening 24 at one end and an internally threaded opening 26 at the opposite end. An outwardly projecting rib 30 cooperates with a coupling nut 30A in the usual mariner by means of annular ledge 308. The body member may have grooves 22A for gripping by pliers or other similar tools. Inturned end members 32 at the pin end of the body member provide the opening 24 and shoulders 34 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A contact pin 36 is positioned within the body member 22 and extends through the opening 24. The pin 36 is provided with an outwardly extending flange or shoulder 38 and a centrally positioned countersunk cavity 40. An axially extending bore 42 may also extend from the underside of the countersink or cavity. Positioned against the shoulder 38 is a thin flexible disk 44 of conductive material (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) having a central opening 46 of relatively small size and a plurality of radially extending slits 48 whereby the disk can be bowed toward the cavity 40 in the contact pin 36 to enlarge the opening 46 for receiving the center conductor 14 of the coaxial transmission line 12. Thus, interior pins 50 on the disk will flex and securely clamp the center conductor and provide electrical connection therewith. The lips 50 may flex back under the normal resiliency of the disk 44, or the depth and size of the cavity 40 may be such that the lips are flexed backwardly into clamping engagement with the inner conductor 14 by pressure of the disk 44 against the shoulder 38 of contact pin 36 in a manner hereinafter described.

A metallic eyeletlike member 52 having a thin-walled sleeve portion 54 and a flanged portion 56 is also positioned within the body member 22 with the flange 56 making electrical contact with a metallic surface of the shoulder 28. The sleeve 54 may be contoured to a relatively sharp edge so as readily to slip between the dielectric layer 16 surrounding the center conductor 14 of the coaxial cable 12 and the outer conductor 18 thereof. Clamping of the outer conductor 18 and its protec tive sheath 20 against the sleeve 54 is accomplished by an externally threaded adapter nut 58 which screws into the threads 26 of body member 22 and is provided at its inner end with a camlike portion 60 which squeezes the outer portions of the coaxial cable into secure attachment to the eyeletlike member 52. At the same time, the inner end 58A of nut 58 presses the flange 56 of eyelet 52 against the shoulder 28 of the body member.

To provide for insulating the contact pin 36 from the body member 22, an insert or spacer 62 of dielectric material, hav ing a portion 64 adapted to fit in the opening 24, a shoulder 66 for engagement with the shoulder 34 of the body member, and a counterbored opening 68, is positioned between the contact pin and the body member. A further dielectric sleeve or spacer 70 is positioned between the flexible disk 44 and the flange 56 of eyelet 52 to provide for pressing the disk against the contact pin and the pin against the spacer 62 thereby to secure all parts in assembled position upon tightening of the nut 58. The adapter nut 58 is provided with a bore 72 of sufficient size for the passage of the cable 12 therethrough. In like manner, the eyelet 52 has a bore of such size as to permit passage of the inner conductor 14 and its dielectric layer 16 therethrough the spacer 70 has a bore which receives the conductor l4 therethrough. The bore 42 of contact pin 36 may be provided for receiving the end of the center conductor 14 therein, and the countersunk cavity 40 is of such narrow depth as to permit positive rearward flexing of the lips 50 of disk 44 I upon tightening of nut 58.

The assembly of the connector in order to attach it to a coaxial transmission line will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The pin 36 with the spacer 62 positioned thereon is first inserted through the open threaded end of the body member 22. The coaxial line 12 and the inner conductor with the nut 58, eyelet 52, spacer 70 and disk 44 mounted thereon, and with the bared inner end of the inner conductor 14 clamped in the bowed portion of the disk and the outer conductor 18 and its protective sheath 20 slipped over the sleeve 54 of the eyelet member, is then pushed into the bore of the body member through the open threaded end until the disk engages the contact pin and the flange portion 56 of the eyelet engages the shoulders 28. The nut 58 is now tightened to clamp the outer conductor and sheath 20 against the sleeve 54 with the disk 44 pressed against the contact pin, the flange 56 pressed against the shoulder 28, and all parts locked in assembled position. The only tools required are a pair of ordinary pliers. The conductor can be as readily disassembled, and all parts are available for reuse.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for transmission lines of the coaxial cable type, the combination comprising a body member, a contact pin mounted in said body member at one end thereof, said pin being provided with a centrally positioned cavity and a shoulder portion at its inner end, and a thin flexible disk of conductive material adapted to be positioned against said shoulder portion, said disk having a small central opening and a plurality of slits extending radially outwardly from said opening whereby the disk can be bowed toward said cavity to enlarge the opening for receiving the center conductor of a coaxial transmission line and then flexes back securely to clamp said center conductor and provide electrical connection therewith, said body member is provided with an internally threaded opening at the end thereof opposite to said contact pin and with an inwardly extending shoulder located intermediate its ends, a metallic eyeletlike member comprising a thin-walled sleeve having an outwardly extending flange is positioned in said body member outwardly of said shoulder, said sleeve being adapted to be slipped between the dielectric layer surrounding said center conductor of said coaxial transmission line and the outer conductor thereof and said flange being adapted to make electrical contact with a metallic surface on said shoulder, and an externally threaded adapter nut is screwed into said threaded end of the body member. said nut having an axially extending bore adapted for the passage of said coaxial transmission line therethrough, and said bore having an enlarged camlike portion at its inner end adapted to clamp said outer conductor and its outer insulating sheath against said thin-walled sleeve with the inner end of said nut pressing said flange of the eyeletlike member against said shoulder of the body member, and a dielectric spacing sleeve having an axially extending bore adapted for the passage of said inner conductor therethrough is positioned in said body member between said flexible disk and said eyeletlike member, said spacing sleeve serving to press said flexible disk against said shoulder portion of said contact pin upon tightening of said adapter nut.

2. A connector as defined in claim 1 in which a second dielectric sleeve is positioned in said body member at the pin end thereof, said sleeve having an axially extending bore providing for the passage of said contact pin therethrough, an enlarged counterbored portion adapted to receive the shoulder portion of said contact pin and said flexible disk therein, and a shoulder portion adapted to engage an end portion of said body member whereby said contact pin and flexible disk are secured in position upon tightening of said adapter nut with the pin dielectrically insulated from the body member.

3. A connector as defined in claim 5 in which said flexible disk is provided with a preformed bow at said central opening, and said cavity at the inner end of said contact pin is of such depth and size as to permit and accommodate flexing of said disk and clamping of said center conductor upon tightening of said adapter nut.

FORM PO-HJSO (10-69] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 2.611.271 Dated October 5. 1971 Inven )Donald C. Knapp It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 47, "extending" (second occurrence) should be deleted. Column 2, line 70, insert ---and--- after "therethrough". Column 4, line 32, "5 should be --l--.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M.F'LETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCQMM-DC GOING-P69 us GOVERNMENT vnlm'ms OFFICE I969 o-su-asl 

1. A connector for transmission lines of the coaxial cable type, the combination comprising a body member, a contact pin mounted in said body member at one end thereof, said pin being provided with a centrally positioned cavity and a shoulder portion at its inner end, and a thin flexible disk of conductive material adapted to be positioned against said shoulder portion, said disk having a small central opening and a plurality of slits extending radially outwardly from said opening whereby the disk can be bowed toward said cavity to enlarge the opening for receiving the center conductor of a coaxial transmission line and then flexes back securely to clamp said center conductor and provide electrical connection therewith, said body member is provided with an internally threaded opening at the end thereof opposite to said contact pin and with an inwardly extending shoulder located intermediate its ends, a metallic eyeletlike member comprising a thin-walled sleeve having an outwardly extending flange is positioned in said body member outwardly of said shoulder, said sleeve being adapted to be slipped between the dielectric layer surrounding said center conductor of said coaxial transmission line and the outer conductor thereof and said flange being adapted to make electrical contact with a metallic surface on said shoulder, and an externally threaded adapter nut is screwed into said threaded end of the body member, said nut having an axially extending bore adapted for the passage of said coaxiAl transmission line therethrough, and said bore having an enlarged camlike portion at its inner end adapted to clamp said outer conductor and its outer insulating sheath against said thin-walled sleeve with the inner end of said nut pressing said flange of the eyeletlike member against said shoulder of the body member, and a dielectric spacing sleeve having an axially extending bore adapted for the passage of said inner conductor therethrough is positioned in said body member between said flexible disk and said eyeletlike member, said spacing sleeve serving to press said flexible disk against said shoulder portion of said contact pin upon tightening of said adapter nut.
 2. A connector as defined in claim 1 in which a second dielectric sleeve is positioned in said body member at the pin end thereof, said sleeve having an axially extending bore providing for the passage of said contact pin therethrough, an enlarged counterbored portion adapted to receive the shoulder portion of said contact pin and said flexible disk therein, and a shoulder portion adapted to engage an end portion of said body member whereby said contact pin and flexible disk are secured in position upon tightening of said adapter nut with the pin dielectrically insulated from the body member.
 3. A connector as defined in claim 5 in which said flexible disk is provided with a preformed bow at said central opening, and said cavity at the inner end of said contact pin is of such depth and size as to permit and accommodate flexing of said disk and clamping of said center conductor upon tightening of said adapter nut. 